Steering mechanism for trailers



Oct. 29, 1929. R. s. LANGDON 4 STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Filed Aug. 16, 1 928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 anvehtoz Hobart SLnyd0n Oct. 29, 1929. R. s. LANGDON STEERING MECH KNISM FOR TRAILERS Filed Aug. 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 4036 wuemtoz 153012612 5 [Ime da/z 4 Shqets-Sheet Oct. 29,1929 R. s. LANGDON STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Filed Aug. 16. 192B 9511M MA/wa Oct. 29, 1929. R. s. LANGDON S TEERING MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Filed Aug. 16. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet avwentoz v fioberfJfLanydon i-La ' description takenin conjunction with the as Patented Oct. 2 9, i 1929 ems stares ROBERT s. LAl\'|'C=1-DO N,0F snnr'rnn. wAsnrneroi-i, ssrerion To PACIFIC CAR AND FOUNDRY consent, onsnnr'rnn;'wnsnrnscron,n CORPORATION on WASHINGTON I STEERING: MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Y i Application filed August 1c, 1223. Serial 2%,299370.

This invention relates to vehicles. and has particular reference to trailers for attachment to another vehicle for movement there with.

One object of the invention is the provision of a new andirnproved steering mechanism .for vehicle trailers.

In vehicletrailers it is desirableto have a steering mechanism so formed as topermit the trailer to turn in as. small a radius as possible. With the usual type of trailer, it has been found that when the load carried thereby is unbalanced and said trailer is turned at a'comparatively greatangle such, for example, as an angle of 90, it frequently occurs that the trailer is upset. It is therefore, desirable to provide-a trailer whichcombines the features of capability of turning in a short radius with stability to. prevent upsetting, and this,'therefore, is another object of the present invention.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a steering mechanism for trailers in which the steering wheels of said trailer are moved to varying degrees to accord with the turning radius of-the trailer and in accordance with the direction of'travel of a vehicle to which it is attached;

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trailer having a steering mechanism therefor Which combines the features of a swivelling or, dirigible axle with wheels pivoted to theendsthereof;

is swivelly secured to the vehicle; the steering wheels, when moved to change the forward direction of the vehicle being so mounted that i they assume a position tangential to the circumference ofthe turning I'ELCl1HS,'Wl11Cl1 is the center of either of the rear wheels of the vehicle dependent upon the direction of change of thesteering wheels.

,Other objects and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following companying drawings in which Flgure 1 isatop plan view of the trailer,

the body thereof being shown diagrammati c'ally, and the steering axlebeing shown both in fulllines and in dotted lines;-the latter to indicate a steering. position of fthe wheels i when the vehicle is changing direction; a

Fig. 2 is a top plan wheelsand steering axle; a

Fig. 3 is arear view partly in section, of the steering axle ofthe trailer taken onthe line 3-3, Fig. 2, the figure ,alsoshowing a body bolster in elevation; I

Fig. 4. isa detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4--of enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 551 of Fig. 4, the wheels being omitted F .6 is a detail viewofthe fifth-wheel casting;

"Fig. 7 view of the axle at thereof;

but showing a modifiedform 0f the invention, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan viewof the axle shown in Fig. 8, certain parts being shown in section. 1

Referring now more particularly to the I drawings in which slmllar characters of ref' erence designate similar parts in the several view of the steering:

Fig. l; the parts being shown is an enlarged fragmentary toppla n substantially the center '10 views, the trailer comprises a body diagram inaticallyindicated generally at.,A,' having rear wheels 2 mounted on a rear axle 4. and

front wheels 6 carriedona front axle 8 which latter is pivotally or swivelly connected as in Figs. 3- and 4 and indicated at 10. The bolster is shown as comprising substantially f85 hereinafter describedto a body bolster shown an I-beam 11 and reinforcing plates 13 which latter. are connected to the side sills and end the specific type of bolster indi- I The front axle is substantially I-shaped in 7 cross section being provided with the upper,

90 sills l5 and 17 respectively, and to the I-beams through the bearing portions 19 and the knuckles as" clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 5. The knuckles '20 carry stub axles 24 upon which the steering wheels 6 heretofore men tioned are mountediin any suitable manner, and the knuckles are further provided with apertured lugs'26 .intowhich the forward ends of steering arms 28 extend and are secured, as clearly shown inFig. 5. The steerlng arms 28 each have a reduced end which extends through the lugs 26 andsaid reduced pose; "nuts 31 securing the arms'28 in the end defines a shoulder 29 for an obvious purxThesteering arms 28 extend rearwardly from theaxle and their free ends are connected by a steering rod indicated generally at B and comprising the oppositely arranged sections 30 and32, the inner and ad acent ends 'of which are each secured within transversely slotted clevises 34. The outer endsofthe steeringarins 28 are secured within yokes 36 by suitable pins 38, and the outer ends of the sections 30 and 32 extend into saio yokes' as clearly shown in Fig. 5. For adjusting the relative angular relation of the stub axles 24, the sections 30 and 32 may be adjusted within their respective clevises 34 and the yokes if desired.

36. Preferably the sections 30 and 32are threadedly engaged within the yokes 36, and their clevises 84. but obviously various other meansof connecting; the sections 30 and 32 to said yokes and 'clevises may. be employed, With a the present arrangement, however, after the sections. 30' and 32 have been adjusted to properly position the stub axles 24 with respect to each other. suitable J binding nuts 40 are provided for retaining the stub axles in their adjusted relative angular relation, will be apparent.

Referring nowto'Fig. 4. it canbe seen that the web of'the axle 8 adjacent and beloW'tlie opening 18 is provided with an integral em- "bossmenti42 defining a seat for the rear section 44 of a sectional steering lever B which is arranged through the opening 18; .the

front section 46 thereof being hingedly con :nected to said rear section asshown at 48.

The section 44 may be acasting and is formed with the extended rear end 50.having an integral bearing lug 52 to which the clevises '34 are connected by thepins 54.

f The rear section 44 .of the leverB is provided with an apertured centering boss 56 which seats on the embossment 42 and is piv 'otally connected .thereto and hence to the axle by a king pin 58 which extends through a center plate 60, the axle 8, the boss 56 and said embossment 42, a securing nut 64 being provided at the lower end of the king pin for an obvious purpose and the center plate is recessed to receive theking pin head 66.

T he section 44 of the steering lever is provided with a circular fiange68 arrange-d concentrically with respect to the boss 56 which provides a centering means for an annular rack 70 which may, if desired, be securedin any suitable manner to the steering lever section 44. The center plate 60 is of the form shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 6, being substantially circular in shape and secured to reinforcing plates 13 by suitable fasteners such the rivets 72 and having an annular marginal retaining flange 74.

The axle 8, adjacent the opening 18 therein. and above the latter, is formed with an enlarged substantially circular plate por tion'shown clearly in Fig.1? and designated generally C. This plate portlonC 1s preferably formed with the upper chord 12 of the axle, as clearly shownin Fig. 3, and comprises a substan iallycircular plate 57 provided with an npwardly extending annular flange 96 and a depending huh 94 apertured as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and' hrough which aperture the pin .58 extends. The upwardly extending flange 96 overlaps the depending boss 7 6 of the center plate 60 and provides a retaining means for the hereinbefore mentioned ball bearing elements 78. Extending outwardlv from the plate 57 is a continuous flange 100 which inav be machined and which supports a circular bearing cage 102 having the hearing elements 104 therein which work on said flange 100 and on the under surface 106 thereof.

The web 97 has preferably formed integral therewith opposed bearing portions 88 which support pinion shafts 86. the inner ends of.

tend through oppositely arranged openings 98 formed in the web 97 and mesh with the rack 82 secured to the center plate 60.

Figs. 8 and 9 disclose modified forms of of the center plate 60 at a bearing surface s the invention, but the thought'present inthe remaining figures of the drawings is also present in'the modified form, and now referring to Fig. 8, the axle is designated generally at F having a lower chord 110 and an upper chord 112 (see Fig. 9). Like the axle shown clearly in Fig} 3,the axle shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is provided witha recess through which the rear end 114 of a steering lever G extends,

the steering lever being pivoted by reason of the pinll22. Forsecuring the pin against displacement a nut 124 is provided and the head 126' ofthe pin-:is-preferably countersunk *within the center plates'H as shown clearly in Fig.8. Referring now *more particularly to Fig. Z9,'the upper chord ofrthexaxle 'Fris provided *with an-enlarged substantially ci'rcularplate portion --indicated generally at IQ and which is provided with an ann-ular'flange 128 which is-of -substantial depth, as clearly shown in -Fig. -8. The plateportionK is also provided with a concentrically arranged annular 'flange 130 which-overlaps a depending lug 132 formed onthe'lowcr face of the center p1ate H -the' lug132 and thefiange 130 being spaced to provide a race therebetween for the reception of suitable hearing elements such asthe balls 13?).

' The plate portion K ofthe axle is provided a "with" oppositely arranged openingswhich are preferably "of the form shown in Fig. 9 and which'aredesignated at 134. These open;

ings are adapted to receivecastings 'L which are provided with space'd portions 136 and "138 respectively: and with oppositely extending attaching ears 140 bywliichthe castings L may be secured -to the innerzifa ce ofthe flange 128 by means of the bolts 142. The portions 136- and 1 38of:the castings L define pinion receiving spaces in which the pinions 144 are mounted on axles 146 which extend through the portions 136 and 188 of the castings and have a reduced end 148 arranged in the flange 128 of the plate portion K. For securing the axles 146 against displacement, suitable fasteners such as the cotters 150 may be employed, see Fig. 8. The center plate H is provided with a depending annular flange 152 and the lower face of the center plate which is adjacent the flange 152 may be machined, if desired, to afiord an easy working surface for bearing elements 154-in a bearing cage 156; the bearing cage, or more particularly the bearing elements 154 thereof being seated on the upper surface of the flange 128, which upper surface may be machined if desired.

The center plate H is further provided with an integrally'formed annular rack 158 with which thetceth of the pinions 144 are adapted to mesh, and the upper surface of the rear end 114 ofthe steering lever G- is also provided with an integral rack 160 with whichthepinions 140 are adapted to mesh. The drawings disclose the racks is merely by way of example, as obvious- 1y, if desired, the center plate and section 114 V of the steering'lever may each be-provided with separate. and independentracks which can be secured in any 'suitable'or desirable HlEIIlIlQI' to these respective parts. i

Fromthe above description, itis believed that the construction of :the device of the present invention will be fullyapparentto f those skilled in the art to whichitappertains, but attention is called to therfa'ct that when the steering lever B' is shifted clockwise as shown in Fig. 1, the lever willpivot about the king pin 58 thus moving the rear end thereof correspondingly and changing the relative angular relation of the stub axles 24 and the steering wheels to thezposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in which it can be readily seen that the steering wheels "6 are moved to assume a position tangential to an arcdrawn from a pointlocated on the axis of the rear wheels oran extension thereof,thereby providing a construction in which it'will be apparentthatthe trailer may be turned completely around in *a :space ust doublethe length of the distancebetween the front and rearwheels.

Immediatelyuponpivotingor turningofthe steering lever .B,'it will be apparentathat the pins84 will be rotated by reason of the turning of the rack 84with respect thereto; the pinions rotating in the racks 82 and 70. *Upon ro .tation of these pinions 84,.itwil1be obvious that the axle Swill be pivoted or'swivelled on the king pin 58 ina direction corresponding to the turning direction of the wheels 6, asalso shown inFig. 1,-butto-an extentless than the pivotal or swivelling movement of the wheels fi. i

.Fromthe above descriptionof Figs.

and 9,it willbe apparent that the device shown in said figures will operate in accordance with the description :--,given just above with reference to the remaining figures of the drawings, and no further description is believed to benecessary. However, withthe device shownin FigsFS and 1.9, it can be H readily seenthat should one of-thecastings L become fractured 'orbrokenyit may be easily andquickly replaced and the device restored .to service. However, the thought of the device shownin FigsuS and the similar to that shown in the remainingfigures of the drawings.

The device of the present invention has been shown as specifically appliedtov a carrier termed a trailer, but it will be apparent that the invention outlined herein is appli- ,1 cable to any vehicle in whichitisdesirable to provide a'swivelling front axle; andswii eh ling wheels connected thereto; such, for

.QXELIIlPlB ZLSiL motor trucker-other motor 158 and 160'a's being formed lintegral with the center plate and the section 1114 vof ithe steering lever G respectively, but this rnediate its ends to said axle and having vehicle, the invention providing a structure in which the vehicle will not be upset in turning even though the same be loaded in an unbalanced manner. 7

The drawings disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that hey are for illustrative purposes only and that various changes in the form and proportions of the device may be made within the scope or the appended claims without departing from the spiritoi the invention.

What is claimed is '1. In a trailer, a body bolster, a front axle, wheels pivotally connected to the axle to swing laterally with respect thereto, a steering rod for swinging the w ieels on their givots, a steering lever pi -otally connected interits rear end connected to the steering rod, a center plate secured to the bolster and supported by'the axleandprovided with a rack, rack formed on the steering lever and a pinion journaled in the axle and meshing with the said racks whereby upon lateral shifting of the steering lever the wheels are turned on their pivots and said pinion is rotated to swing the axle.

2. In a trailer, a body bolster, a dirigible axle, wheels pivotally secured thereto, a steering rod for swinging said'wheels, a steering lever. supported by'the axle and having its rear end connected to said steering rod, a center plate secured to the bolsteigoppositely arranged racks secured to the center plate and steeringlever respectively, and pinions supported by the axle and meshing with said racks whereby upon shifting of the steering lever to swing the wheels the pinions are actuated to swing the axle in the same direc tion. I

3. In a vehicle, a body bolster, a dirigible axle, wheels pi'votally secured thereto, a steering rod for swinging the wheels, a steering lever extending throughand pivotally secured to the axle and connected at its rear end to the steering rod, an annular rack supported by the steering lever, an embossment formed with the upper portion of the axle and having opositely arranged depending bearings, pinion shafts in the bearings, pinions mounted in the shafts and meshing with the annular rack, a center plate supported by the axle and having an annular rack with which said pinions mesh, and bearing elements supported by the axle embossment.

4. In a vehicle, a dirigible front axle comprising an I-beam having an elongated opening in the web thereof and a plate portion formed with the upper chord, depending bearings formed withsaid plate portion, an internal annular flange formed with said plate portion, and a hub depending from the plate portion and arranged in the opening.

5. In a trailer, an I-beam providing an axle and having an opening in the web thereof, a steering lever extended through the opening, a king pin arranged through the axle and lever for permitting lateral shifting of the lever, wheels swiveled to the axle, a steering rod connecting said wheels and to which the rear end of the leve' is connected, oppositely arranged bearings formed with the upper flange of the axle, pinions supported by said bearings and extending through the upper flange of the'axle, a center plate above the axle and through which the king pin extends, bearing elements supported by the axle on which the center plate rests, and oppositely disposed racks on the steering lever and center plate respectively engaged by said pinions whereby lateral shifting of the steering lever shifts the wheels and axle in the same direction in relatively difierent amounts.

6. In a vehicle, a c irigible front axle having a plate portion intermediate its ends provided with oppositely arranged apertures, wheels 'pivotally secured to .the ends of the axle, a steering lever pivotally connected to the axle and operatively connected to the wheels to swing the latter, a center plate suphand.

ROBERT S. LANGDON. 

